The AIDAcara opened the Cruiseport Rotterdam cruise season today.
The vessel arrived at 07.30 hours at the Holland Amerikakade in the heart of Rotterdam, right next to the AIDAmar, which arrived a little earlier. This year, for the first time, over 100 cruise ships will call at Rotterdam. Over the past two seasons, Rotterdam received some eighty cruise ships a year.
New Visitors and 'Regulars'
For twelve cruise ships, this will be their first visit to Rotterdam. High points will include the arrival of MS Costa Mediterranea on 6 May, MS Costa Smeralda on 22 October (the second cruise ship ever to sail on LNG) and MS MSC Grandiosa on 4 November. Regular visitors include with various vessels from AIDA, Cruise & Maritime Voyages and MSC Cruises. Holland America Line will be represented this year by MS Rotterdam and MS Zuiderdam.
Towards Green Cruising
‘The cruising industry is important to the city’s economy and, thankfully, is rapidly improving its green credentials. There is a lot of constructive progress and we are consulting on this topic with cruise companies, the Port Authority and the municipality. This collaboration is actually unique,’ stated Mai Elmar, Director of Cruiseport Rotterdam.
‘We’re delighted to offer two AIDA vessels the honour of opening the Rotterdam cruise season on 7 March. With their “green cruising” concept and the launch of the AIDAnova – the first LNG-powered cruise ship – this German shipping company is setting the tone for further sustainability innovations in the cruising industry.’
Picture: Both the AIDAcara and AIDAmar in Rotterdam (by Ries van Wendel de Joode).
